English top flight: ten key points to keep an eye on this matchday
Walker faces Garnacho set for another clash
Another northwest showdown might be on the cards when Burnley's Kyle Walker lines up against Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho at Turf Moor. The attacker has started to settle at Stamford Bridge after his off-season signing from Manchester United and showcased his talents in the Wolves match before the national team interval. His setup for Pedro Neto combined electric speed with a perfect low cross. His build-up for Malo Gusto required shifting infield before chipping a cross across the goalmouth. His joyous moment with Neto, echoing his previous hug with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund, acted as a reminder of the speed at which circumstances change. The previous occasion Garnacho encountered Walker? Back when the youngster netted for United in the Wembley triumph over Manchester City.
Burnley against Chelsea, Saturday afternoon half past twelve (all times GMT)
Antoine Semenyo key to ending Bournemouth's slide
Antoine Semenyo is attracting the entire gossip column attention following a claimed £65m escape clause for his prospective mid-season move, the gossip columns preparing him for graduation out of the Premier League's mid-table ranks. That is understandable for a attacker who has six goals and three helpers and remains delightful to watch. Still, his side find themselves in an difficult situation, having engaged in a body swap: now it's the relegation battlers West Ham who come in on consecutive triumphs, while Bournemouth have been beaten seven to one on aggregate in their past two fixtures following an promising beginning to the season. Semenyo was denied on the penalty by Emi Martínez in their four-nil loss by Aston Villa but taking on a defensive unit that hasn't kept a clean sheet in the league since the start of the season might be the ideal remedy.
Bournemouth versus West Ham, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
Danny Welbeck a surprise option for the Three Lions
It proved intriguing to hear Thomas Tuchel mention Danny Welbeck repeatedly throughout the international break despite the fact that the Brighton attacker turns 35 in the coming days. “Without even having met him, I am aware what he could offer me,” stated the England manager. “He can be a reserve for Harry [Kane] in a quite orthodox No 9 position.” Earning the final 42 international appearances in 2018, there is every chance that Welbeck may be on the plane for the World Cup assuming he can continue his goalscoring performances. The former Manchester United and Arsenal attacker can claim a greater tally than any other English player in England's top division this season on six and remains anxious to boost that tally as Brighton welcome Brentford in Saturday's match.
Brighton versus Brentford, Saturday afternoon 3:00 PM
The full-back needed as creator and goalscorer
Sessegnon's story has offered a measure of comfort to Fulham's inconsistent beginning. The left-sided player, who came back to his youth team recently following five challenging years with Spurs, is now a first-team fixture, operating on the left side due to the injury of the unavailable Antonee Robinson. The issue? Having scored twice, he's also their joint-top scorer this season together with Harry Wilson. The Mexican striker, their primary attacker in the last term, has scored a single goal whereas Rodrigo Muniz is injured for an extended period because of a surgical procedure. Sessegnon is also having to step up in a creative role replacing Robinson, who supplied ten setups last season. The Cottagers' next four fixtures feature three of the best five and Crystal Palace, who have allowed merely nine scores this season so far. Trouble awaits for the club that have developed a name for consistency in the middle.
Fulham versus Sunderland, Saturday three o'clock
The occasion for Alexander Isak to produce for Liverpool
The dispute about Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal in the match with Manchester City did not camouflage Liverpool's inferiority in that game as they fell to their seventh loss over ten fixtures. Arne Slot's team need a prolonged upturn to muscle into the league contest from this position, along with a dramatic improvement in form, and the possibility presents itself as seven out of their following ten Premier League matches against teams presently in the bottom ten in the league. The risk is clear posed by Nottingham Forest, the only team to inflict a home league defeat on the champions last season, yet it isn't solely Liverpool's display versus long balls and counterattacks that will be under the spotlight. Now is the occasion for Alexander Isak to deliver in a Liverpool shirt. The big-money forward has not played for his club for a month following a muscle issue while his second appearance in the lineup in quick succession in continental competition victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker came back off the bench in the Swedish defeat by Switzerland but was rested the subsequent inconsequential game versus Slovenia to guarantee his readiness for next year's World Cup playoffs. A caution in that match might have made him ineligible. Isak may be short of|lacking|deficient
